Toxic flames engulf Upstate New York brewery

Friday

Firefighters from numerous departments worked to knock down a toxic fire Thursday at the F.X. Matt Brewing Co.

Firefighters from numerous departments were working to knock down a toxic fire Thursday at the F.X. Matt Brewing Co. in Utica, N.Y.

The brewery, family owned since 1888, produces the Saranac family of beers.

“This fire is not under control at this time,” Utica Fire Chief Russ Brooks said Thursday night.

Firefighters are working to prevent the fire from reaching a large ammonia tank because if that tank heats up, it could explode and level a building, Brooks said.

Utica Public Safety Commissioner Daniel LaBella said the fire is ammonia-based, and the four to five blocks around the brewery were evacuated.

“This is a bad one,” LaBella said.

As of Thursday night, there were no significant injuries to any of the firefighters, Brooks said, and only two people have been taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation and both were listed in satisfactory condition.

Utica Fire Marshal Raymond Beck said, "anytime you have a chemical involved in a fire, it's serious," adding the public is not in danger at this time.

It’s believed the fire originated on the second floor at the high cone machine, which puts the plastic around the six packs, Beck said.

The roof and the third floor both collapsed, Beck said, causing serious damage.

"There’s a high potential the bottle building will be a total loss," he said. "Everything has been shut down at this time," Beck said.

A toxic blaze

The fire began shortly after the start of this summer's first Saranac Thursday, a weekly summer festival at the brewery, as flames erupted from the portion of the brewery right behind the concert stage.

Utica police Officer Shannon Acquviva said adjoining streets have been closed by orders of the fire chief. Officials are urging residents to get out of the street and have blocked off roads to traffic.

Duane Evans, assistant chief with the Whitesboro Fire Department, described the fire as a “massive stream situation.” This means they are trying to drown the fire with as much water as possible.

Evans said the fire seems to be contained to that building. However, the building has noticeable cracks and firefighters are worried about collapse, so no personnel are inside.

“It’s going to take a lot of water to put this out, ” Evans said.

Brewery officials react

The fire is in a building on the Saranac compound that relates to processing and the canning line, said Meghan Fraser, marketing coordinator for the brewery.

The alarm went off at about 4:45 p.m., she said. They initially called it in as a smaller fire and then it grew.

One aspect of this is that there is a lot of smoke that relates to packaging and to plastic, Fraser said. Fraser said everybody had been evacuated in the brewery.

Two employees had smoke inhalation issues but they had managed to evacuate everybody, said Fred Matt, vice president of F.X. Matt Brewery.

Matt said his first reaction was to make sure everyone was all right after the fire broke out.

The fire is contained in the canning unit and he hopes it’s going to stay contained, Matt said.

The fire could severely affect brewery operations because the building houses their can operations, Matt said. He said the bottles and cans make up 20 percent of their business.

“We will rebuild. We’ve been in business 120 years, ” Matt said. “This is a speed bump.”

Local leaders react

Mayor David Roefaro said he spoke to New York Gov. David Paterson about the fire.

“I just got off the phone a couple of minutes ago with Gov. Paterson,” Roefaro said around 7 p.m. “He said whatever we need, he will make available.”

That means economic development help or any other aid, he said.

Roefaro was already talking with the Matt family, and he has been in touch with the Governor’s Office to see if any assistance can be provided on behalf of the brewery, Roefaro’s assistant, Angelo Roefaro, said.

“The biggest concern to the mayor was the fact there were so many people around — more than 1,500 people — but that was taken care of very quickly,” Angelo Roefaro said. “As far as the mayor reaching out to the governor, it is just so he knows that this is a very successful business and mainstay of the city.”

State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, said he is in the process of getting extra emergency help for the city's firefighters.

Once the fire is successfully extinguished, Griffo said there is going to be an “after-effect” that will have to be dealt with.

“Whatever we can do to partner with the Matt family and the City of Utica, then we’ll do whatever we can possibly do to help,” Griffo said. “My role will be to continue to advocate and determine what resources may be available and necessary to assist in the transition and rebuilding.”

Observer-Dispatch

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